Polypropylene fibres

Abstract

A polypropylene fiber including greater than 50% by weight of a first isotactic polypropylene produced by a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, from 5 to less than 50% by weight of a second isotactic polypropylene produced by a metallocene catalyst and up to 15% by weight of a syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A polypropylene fibre including greater than 50% by weight of a first isotactic polypropylene produced by a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, from 5 to less than 50% by weight of a second isotactic polypropylene produced by a metallocene catalyst and up to 15% by weight of a syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP). 
     
     
       2. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1  including from 10 to less than 50% by weight of the second isotactic polypropylene. 
     
     
       3. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 2  including from 60 to 80% by weight of the first isotactic polypropylene and from 20 to 40% by weight of the second isotactic polypropylene. 
     
     
       4. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the second polypropylene is a homopolymer, copolymer or terpolymer of isotactic polypropylene or a blend of such polymers. 
     
     
       5. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 4  wherein the second polypropylene has a dispersion index (D) of from 1.8 to 8. 
     
     
       6. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 4  wherein the second polypropylene has a melting temperature in the range of from 80 to 161° C. 
     
     
       7. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the second polypropylene has a melt flow index (MFI) of from 1 to 2500 g/10 mins. 
     
     
       8. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 7  wherein the first polypropylene has a dispersion index of from 3 to 12. 
     
     
       9. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the first polypropylene homopolymer has a melting temperature in the range of from 159 to 169° C. 
     
     
       10. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the amount of syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) is up to 10% by weight. 
     
     
       11. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the sPP is a homopolymer, a random copolymer, a block copolymer or a terpolymer or a blend of such polymers. 
     
     
       12. A polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the sPP has a melting temperature of up to about 130° C. 
     
     
       13. A fabric produced from the polypropylene fibre according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. A product including a fabric according to  claim 1 , the product being selected from a filter, personal wipe, diaper, feminine hygiene product, incontinence product, wound dressing, bandage, surgical gown, surgical drape, protective cover, geotextiles and outdoor fabrics.